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We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America online and free. If everyone who uses this resource makes a donation, we could cover our ongoing costs, develop new features, upgrade the system, and maybe even remove those pesky ads. Please make a one-time or recurring donation to show your support for this valuable source of information. Thank you!
California Dogface
Zerene eurydice (Boisduval, 1855)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Black outer half of male forewing encloses yellow-orange "dog's head" tinged with light purple iridescence. Black "eye" very near or touching the border. Hindwing yellow-orange, sometimes with black border. Female all yellow with a black upper forewing cell spot; sometimes with scattered black scaling on outer half.
Wing Span: 2 - 2 1/2 inches (5.1 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females.
Flight: Two flights from April-May and July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Usually false indigo (Amorpha californica) in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Foothills, chaparral, oak or coniferous woodlands.
Range: North-central California south to Baja California, west of the central mountains and deserts.
Conservation: None usually required.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
Pollinator Week is June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 237 verified sightings

Observation date: Sep 29, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2016

Observation date: Jun 19, 2016
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2016

Observation date: Jun 23, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 31, 2015

Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 31, 2015

Observation date: Oct 13, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 29, 2015

Observation date: Oct 02, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 09, 2015

Observation date: Jun 28, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 30, 2014

Observation date: Jun 28, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 29, 2014

Observation date: Mar 14, 2014
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 25, 2014

Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 16, 2014

Observation date: Feb 13, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 14, 2014

Observation date: Apr 10, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 22, 2013

Observation date: Jun 15, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 14, 2013

Observation date: Jun 02, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 27, 2013

Observation date: Jun 06, 2013
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2013

Observation date: Feb 17, 2012
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 21, 2012

Observation date: Apr 01, 2011
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 17, 2012

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 24, 2011

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 24, 2011

Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 24, 2011

Observation date: Aug 24, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011

Observation date: Feb 11, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011

Observation date: Jul 16, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert Warner)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011

Observation date: Apr 08, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
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